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PSYC 100 EXAM: Key Terms > Week 6: Neurobiology > Flashcards

Week 6: Neurobiology Flashcards

The Brain, Psychophysiological Methods in Neuroscience, The Nervous System

1
Q

Metabolites

A

A substance necessary for a living organism to maintain life (oxygen, glucose)

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2
Q

The Nervous System

A

complex biological organ; enables many animals including humans to function in a coordinated fashion; evolved over time

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3
Q

Homo Habilis

A

A human ancestor, handy man, that lived two million years ago

Used crude stone tools

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4
Q

Homo Sapiens

A

Modern man, the only surviving form of the genus Homo

Uses modern tools

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5
Q

Ectoderm

A

Outermost layer of a developing fetus

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6
Q

Neural Induction

A

A process that causes the formation of the neural tube

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7
Q

Rostrocaudal

A

A front-back plane used to identify anatomical structures in the body and the brain

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8
Q

Spina Bifida

A

Developmental disease of the spinal cord, where the neural tube does not close caudally; part of spinal cord is exposed cuz it didn’t close properly at the end

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9
Q

Forebrain

A

Part of the nervous system that contains teh cerebral hemispheres, thalamus, and hypothalamus

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10
Q

Neuroblasts

A

Brain progenitor cells that asymmetrically divide into other neuroblasts or nerve cells

baby nerve cells

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11
Q

Neuroepithelium

A

The lining of the neural tube

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12
Q

Neural Crest

A

group of special cells that form at top of neural tube (which becomes brain and spinal cord) during early development

A set of primordial neurons that migrate outside the neural tube and give rise to sensory and autonomic neurons in the peripheral nervous system

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13
Q

Autonomic Nervous Systems

A

controls automatic functions in body (heart rate, digestion) by sending signals to glands and smoothing muscles

A part of the peripheral nervous system that connects to glands and smooth muscles; consists of sympathetic and parasmpathetic divisions

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14
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

A part of the peripheral nervous system that uses cranial and spinal nerves in voluntary actions, like moving a muscle

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15
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous Systems

A

A division of the autonomic nervous system that is slower than its counterpart - that is, the sympathetic nervous system - and works in opposition to it; generally engaged in “rest and digest” functions

helps body relax and recover after stress/activity

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16
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

A division of the autonomic nervous system that is faster than its counterpart that is the parasympathetic nervous system and works in opposition to it; generally engaged in “fight or flight” functions

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17
Q

The Peripheral Nervous System

A

helps brain and spinal cord connect/communicate w rest of body; exists outside the brain

SOMATIC - CRANIAL nerves/SPINAL nerves (voluntary actions)
AUTONOMIC - SYMPATHETIC nervous system/PARASYMPATHETIC nervous system (involuntary actions)

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18
Q

Central Nervous System

A
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19
Q

Cerebellum

A

Consists of left and right hemispheres that sit at the top of the nervous system and engages in a variety of higher-order functions

A nervous system structure behind and below the cerebrum; controls motor movement coordination, balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone

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20
Q

Sulcus

A

The crevices or fissures formed by convolutions in the brain - when cerebellum is crumpled into skull it forms furros called sulci

(plural form, Sulci)

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21
Q

Gyrus

A

A bulge that is raised between or among fissures of the convoluted brain - bulges between sulci

(Plural form, Gyri)

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22
Q

Central Sulcus

A

The major fissure that divides the frontal and the parietal lobes

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23
Q

Lateral Sulcus

A

The major fissure that delineates the temporal lobe below the frontal and the parietal lobes

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24
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

An area of the cerebrum that lies below the lateral sulcus; contains auditory and olfactory (smell) projection regions

Wernicke’s area (understanding language); amygdala (emotions); memory (hippocampus)

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25
Q

Primary Motor Cortex

A

A strip of cortex just in front of the central sulcus that is involved w motor control

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26
Q

Magnification Factor

A

Cortical space projected by an area of sensory input (ex. mm of cortex per degree of visual field)

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27
Q

Broca’s Area

A

An area in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere; implicated in language production

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28
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

The most forward region (Close to forehead) of the cerebral hemispheres

thinking, planning, problem-solving

broca’s area is in it

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29
Q

Aphasias

A

Due to damage of the Broca’s area; an inability to produce or understand words

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30
Q

Working Memory

A

The form of memory we use to hold onto information temporarily; usually for the purposes of manipulation

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31
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

An area of the cerebrum just behind the central sulcus that is engaged w somatosensory and gustatory sensation

processes sensory info and spatial awareness

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32
Q

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

A

A strip of cerebral tissue just behind the central sulcus engaged in sensory reception of bodily sensations

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33
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

A language area in the left temporal lobe where linguistic information is comprehended

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34
Q

Arcuate Fasciculus

A

A fiber that connects Wernicke’s and Broca’s speech areas

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35
Q

Agnosias

A

Due to damage of Wernicke’s area; an inability to recognize objects, words, or faces

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36
Q

Occipital lobe

A

processes visual info

The back part of the cerebrum, which houses the visual areas

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37
Q

Thalamus

A

brain’s relay station; receives sensory info (except smell) and sends it to appropriate part of brain for processing

A part of the diencephalon that works as a gateway for incoming and outgoing information

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38
Q

Transduction

A

A process in which physical energy converts into neural energy

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39
Q

Limbic System

A

A loosely defined network of nuclei in the brain involved w learning and emotion

amgydala, hippocampus, hypothalamus

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40
Q

Hippocampus

A

responsible for forming new memoreis and learning

A nucleus inside (medial) the temporal lobe implicated in learning and memory

41
Q

Fornix

A

bridge that helps hippocampus communicate w other brain areas for memory, emotions, learning

A nerve fiber tract that connects the hippocampus to mammillary bodies

42
Q

Cingulate Gyrus

A

A medial cortical portion of the nervous tissue that is a part of the limbic system

43
Q

Globus Pallidus

A

A nucleus of the basal ganglia

44
Q

Hypothalamus

A

helps control drives like hunger, thirst, temp regulation

Part of the diencephalon; regulates biological drives w pituitary gland

45
Q

Pons

A

largest part of CNS; in the brain stem; communication bridge for breathing, sleeping, facial movements to different parts of the brain

A bridge that connects the cerebral cortex w the medulla, and reciprocally transfers information back and forth between the brain and the spinal cord

46
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

An area just above the spinal cord that processes breathing, digestion, heart and blood vessel function, swallowing, and sneezing

47
Q

Gray Matter

A

brain’s processing centre full of neuorns that handle thinking, feeling, controlling body movements

Composes the bark or the cortex of the cerebrum and consists of the cell bodies of the neurons

48
Q

White matter

A

Regions of the nervous sytem that represent the axons of the nerve cells; whitish in colour because of myelination of the nerve cells

49
Q

Imunocytochemistry

A

A method of staining tissue including the brain, using antibodies

50
Q

Lesion Studies

A

A surgical method in which a part of the animal brain is removed to study its effects on behaviour or function

51
Q

Event-related potentials

A

A physiological measure of large electrical change in the brain produced by sensory stimulation or motor responses

52
Q

Computerized axial tomography (CAT)

A

A noninvasive brain-scanning procedure that uses X-ray absorption around the head

53
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

Brain imaging noninvasive technique that uses magnetic energy to generate brain images

54
Q

Psychophysiological methods

A

Any research method in which the dependent variable is a physiological measure and the independent variable is behavioural or mental (such as memory)

ex. EEG, skin conductance, fMRI (blood flow - conductance)

55
Q

Neuroscience methods

A

A research method that deals w the structure or function of the nervous system and brain

56
Q

Invasive

A

A procedure that involves the skin being broken or an instrument or chemical being introduced into a body cavity

57
Q

Lesions

A

Abnormalities in the tissue of an organism usually caused by disease or trauma

58
Q

Noninvasive

A

A procedure that does not require the insertion of an instrument or chemical through the skin or into a body cavity

59
Q

Hemoglobin

A

protein in red blood cell that carry oxygen around the body
The oxygen-carrying portion of a red blood cell

60
Q

Oxygenated hemoglobin

A

Hemoglobin carrying oxygen

61
Q

Deoxygenated hemoglobin

A

Hemoglobin not carrying oxygen - oxygen molecules have all been released

62
Q

Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD)

A

it’s how scientists use changes in oxygen levels in brain to study brain activity through fMRI
the signal typically measured in fMRI that results from changes in the ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin to deoxygenated hemoglobin the blood

63
Q

Temporal Resolution

A

how quickly/accurately a method can detect changes over time

Refers to how small a unit of time can be measured; high temporal resolution means capable of resolving very small units of time; in neuroscience it describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain

64
Q

Spatial Resolution

A

how clearly/accurately a method can locate/differentiate areas/details in tehb rain - how small of a brain structure can be seen

Refers to how small the elements of an image are; high spatial resolution means the device/technique can resolve very small elements; in neuroscience it describes how small of a structure in the brain can be imaged

65
Q

Voltage

A

Difference in electric charge between two points

66
Q

Positron

A

A particle having the same mass and numerically equal but positive charge as an electron

67
Q

Depolarization

A

A change in a cell’s membrane potential, making the inside of the cell more positive and increasing the chance of an action potential

68
Q

Hyperpolarization

A

A change in a cell’s membrane potential, making the inside of the cell more negative and decreasing the chance of an action potential

69
Q

Neural Plasticity

A

Ability of synapses and neural pathways to change over time and adapt to changes in neural process, behaviour or environment

70
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

The part of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord

71
Q

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A

A neuroimaging technique that measures *electrical brain activity via multiple electrodes on the scalp *
used to measure BRAIN WAVES and study brain activity

Technique for studying brain activation; uses at least two and sometimes up to 256 electrodes to measure the difference in electrical charge (the VOLTAGE) between pairs of points on the head; in contrast to fMRI, EEG measures neural activity directly, rather than a correlate of that activity

Poor spatial resolution; Provides highest level of temporal resolution

72
Q

Electromyography (EMG)

A

Measures electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles; measures voltage between two points; technique can be used to determine muscle activity in research and emotion research

73
Q

When to use what..

A

If you are interested in what brain structures are associated with cognitive control, you wouldn’t use peripheral nervous system measures. A technique such as fMRI or PET might be more appropriate.

If you are interested in how cognitive control unfolds over time, EEG or MEG would be a good choice.

74
Q

Magneotencephalography (MEG)

A

Technique for non-invasively measuring neural activity; flow of electrical charge (the current) associated w neural activity produces very weak magnetic fields that can be detected by sensors placed near the participant’s scalp

Great temporal resolution; not as suscpetible to distortions from the skull/scalp; MEG recording apparatus is much more expensive than EEG, less widely available

75
Q

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A

A neuroimaging technique that infers brain activity by measuring changes in oxygen levels in the blood.

Method used to assess changes in activity of tissue, such as measuring changes in neural activity in different areas of the brain during thought; measures the change in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin, known as the BOLD signal

  1. fMRI measures blood volume and blood flow, and from this we infer neural activity; fMRI doesn’t measure neural activity directly
  2. fMRI data typically have poor temporal resolution; however when combined w sMRI, fMRI provides excellent spatial resolution

Method is valuable for identifying specific areas of the brain that are associated w different physical or psychological tasks; Clinically, fMRI may be used prior to neurosurgery in order to identify areas that are associated with language so that the surgeon can avoid those areas during the operation. fMRI allows researchers to identify differential or convergent patterns of activation associated with tasks

76
Q

Brain Stem

A

the “trunk” of the brain comprised of the medulla, pons, midbrain, and diencephalon - collectively, these regions also are involved in our sleep-wake cycle, some sensory nd motor function, as well as growth and other hormonal behaiours

Responsible for many of the neural functions that keep us alive, including regulating our respiration (breathing), heart rate, and digestion

“life support” needed for severe damage to brain stem

“brain dead” - loss of brain stem function

77
Q

Cerebellum

A

A nervous system structure behind and below the cerebrum; controls motor movement coordination, balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone

The distinctive structure at the back of the brain

78
Q

Cerebrum

A

Consists of left and right hemispheres that sit at the top of the nervous system and engages in a variety of higher-order functions

79
Q

Cerebral hemispheres

A

Cerebral cortex, underlying white matter, and subcortical structures; responsible for our cognitive abilities and conscious experience

80
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

The outermost grey matter of the cerebrum; the distinctive convolutions characteristic of the mammalian brain

81
Q

Subcortical

A

Structures that lie beneath the cerebral cortex, but above the brain stem

82
Q

Somatosensory (body sensations) Cortex

A

The region of the parietal lobe responsible for bodily sensations; the somatosensory cortex has a contralateral representation of the human body

83
Q

Motor Cortex

A

Region of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movement; the motor cortex has a contralateral representation of the human body

84
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

Subcortical structures of the cerebral hemispheres involved in voluntary movement

85
Q

Contralateral

A

Literally “opposite side’; used to refer to the fact that the two hemispheres of the brain process sensory information and motor commands for the opposite side of the body (ex. the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body)

86
Q

Lateralized

A

to the side; used to refer to the fact that specific functions may reside primarily in one hemisphere or the other (ex. for the majority individuals, the left hemisphere is most responsible for language)

87
Q

Callostomy

A

Surgical procedure in which the corpus callosum is severed (used to control severe epilepsy)

88
Q

Split-brain patients

A

a patient who has had most or all of his corpus callosum severed

89
Q

Visual hemifield

A

The half of visual space (what we see) on one side of fixation (where we are looking); the left hemisphere is responsible for the right visual hemifield, and the right hemisphere is responsible for the left visual hemifield

90
Q

Myelin

A

Fatty tissue, produced by glial cells that insulates the axons of the neurons; myelin is necessary for normal conduction of electrical impulses among neurons

91
Q

Converging evidence

A

Similar findings reported from multiple studies using different methods

92
Q

Phrenology

A

A now-discredited field of brain study, popular in the first half of the 19th century that correlated bumps and indentations of the skull w specific functions of the brain

93
Q

Ablate

A

Surgical removal of brain tissue

94
Q

Case Studies

A

A thorough study of a patient (or a few patients) w naturally occurring lesions

95
Q

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A

A neuroscience technique whereby a brief magnetic pulse is applied to the head that temporarily induces a weak electrical current that interferes w ongoing activity

96
Q

Temporal resolution

A

a term that refers tohow small a unit of time can be measured; high teporal resolution means capable fo resolving very small units of time; in neuroscience it describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain

97
Q

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

A

a neuroscience technique that passes mild electrical current directly through a brain area by placing small electrodes on the skull

98
Q

Positron Emission tomography (PET)

A

A neuroimaging technique that measure brain activity by detecting the presence of a radioactive substance in the brain that is initially injected into the bloodstream and then pulled in by active brain tissue - Records flow in the brain

disadvantages - invasive and rendering poor spatial resolution

99
Q

Diffuse optical imaging (DOI)

A

A neuroimaging technique that infers brain activity by measuring changes in light as it is passed through the skull ands urface of the brain

When DOI is set up to detect changes in blood oxygen levels, the temporal resolution is low and comparable to PET or fMRI

When DOI is set up to directly detect active neurons, it has high spatial and temporal resolution

PSYC 100 EXAM: Key Terms (12 decks)

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